Month: March 2018

Portrait of his wife, Marjorie Organ by Robert Henri. Painter/teacher Robert Henri lived a life completely devoted to his craft and his magnanimous contribution to the world is incalculable. His way of living inspired the very creation of this blog.

“Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal.” — Earl Nightengale

What is success? What is freedom? Why are we here and what brings happiness? These are important questions people refuse to ask or answer. It’s easier just to react and chase. That’s the animal part of us. But animals aren’t capable of reason or consciousness or morals. They can’t think and know that they’re thinking like we can. So why should we behave so beastly in this vibrant yet complex human world?

Joe Hanna and Bill Barbara’s creation Tom and Jerry works on the one fundamental truth that cats can’t help but be obsessed with mice.

To know how to live is a perplexing problem discussed throughout the ages. Kings, philosophers, scientists, poets and yes, artists too, have contemplated such things throughout the ages. Somewhere in this twenty-first century however, it seems as if these things don’t matter anymore. Celebrity news, cryptocurrencies and technological gadgets occupy the minds of creatives as much as the average five hour a day TV viewer. Like scientists who’ve become more lab technologists rather than seekers of truth, artists have become mere designers/entertainers for advertising, media and toy sales rather than visual recorders and commentators of society. In many ways, to witness this brings me much sadness.

Do you spend more time online shopping, watching youtube videos and checking social media than creating? If so, it might be time to question your commitment as an artist.

But the arrival of industrialization and technology need not be a reason to stop asking these most important life questions. Technology can be a great thing when used properly. But it’s so important to be aware of history, ourselves and our actions. In this high-speed digital age, those bigger existential questions have actually become more important, if not critical to our own survival, both individually and as a society.

When people today hear the word Tesla, they think of the car. But Nikola Tesla was one of the greatest and most noble contributors to human civilization. Great scientists like him were not only commited to their craft at the highest level but thought and cared much for his fellow human beings.

Artists have always served a signifcant role in society being a crucial component to culture. Creation isn’t mere individual expression or glory, but societal contribution via visual reflection and presentation of society’s issues. Great poetry, daring science fiction and brilliant art makes us wonder about the future ahead. We can help people understand by helping them see in different perspectives — ways not so easily described by common communication alone. This is the beauty of our craft. Therefore, we must ask what is it that we value? Financial wealth? Rewards and recognition? The dream job? Or mere security? When we use our gifts only for survival, gain or glory, we’ve downgraded not only ourselves but our craft.

“You traded passion for glory…” — Survivor, Lyrics from the motion picture Rocky III

Thinking with “the end in mind,” we might choose to ask should we die for a shiny piece of metal or plastic? Is it worth wrecking our bodies doing a job for a corporation whose only goal is profit? Do we give up all freedom and intergrity just to have a roof over our heads? Sounds preposterous doesn’t it? Yet most of us do such things each and everyday WITHOUT QUESTION. And to witness so many artists — individuals who have traditionally flouted conformity — do exactly that is tragic. What happened? Where along the way did we lose sight of our passions and obligations? Were we not previously warrior-poets? Challengers to the status quo, pushing for the greater good by pushing for greater meaning? We took to civil disobedience when required. Perhaps it’s become far too easy to forget that our gifts serve a purpose. Afterall, things like fear, comfort and convenience can be very persuasive diversions from living truthfully.

Self-Portrait by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. One of my favorite artists, The four and half foot tall Toulouse-Lautrec was born physically disadvantaged, having to live with pycnodysostosis — also known as Toulouse-Lautrec Syndrome. He was ostricized from his family who disapproved of his life as an artist and lived under constant physical pain. Yet he did what he could, developed his craft and kept creating whenever possible. He died at 32 years of age. One’s devotion doesn’t have to be huge or dramatic. It just has to be there, and for the most noble, it’s there every day.

Artists must live and act by virtues, not trends. This means making choices. In contrast to say other professionals, such as the orderly scientist or financier, the artist is a naturally liberal and free-forming individual, so we’re always more susceptible to chaos. Don’t be fooled into thinking that our vices are responsible for our creativity. They are not. Great artists CHOOSE order, structure and discipline to become useful and productive. Creativity may start in the mind, but it can only live in tangible forms. To create and contribute effectively requires first the acknowledgement of taking personal responsibility, then taking action.

It’s been well-documentated that much of Pollack’s best work was done when he was sober and ritually devoted to his painting, and NOT when he was depressed and drunk.

“Discipline starts with waking up early… It is working out, every day, making yourself stronger and faster and more flexible and healthier. It is eating the right foods, to fuel your system correctly. It is disciplining your emotions, so you can make good decisions. It is about having the discipline to control your ego, so it doesn’t get out of hand and control you.” — Jocko Willink, author & retired US Navy SEAL Commander

It is discipline that leads to freedom and happiness, not wealth or power. Besides, what we can renumerate, acquire, hoard, and achieve, we can replace.  Stuff is just stuff. Stuff gives limited pleasure. We all know that the truly great things in life are free — nature, air, time, love, friendship, and even our very existence — these things were all given to us without consideration. But there’s one condition: they will all eventually be taken away from us. So we must make the best of it. We must create and give while we can. Life was always a limited time offer.

So we shouldn’t always value ourselves based on an externally approved meritocracy. The dominating idea of a meritocracy can confuse the idea that anything is possible for everyone, which we all know isn’t true. Life is rarely fair. And the odds are NOT in our favour to become the next Pablo Picasso, Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Bruce Lee, Albert Einstein or YoYo Ma. Those individuals are generational talents, not just one in a million, but one in many billions. Although this blog has been guilty of using them as examples of what is possible, we must never forget that they serve primarily as a source of knowledge and inspiration, rather than for comparison as to our own self-worth which is better derived from what we do and how we do them.

The young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as portrayed by artist JN Helbling. How can any but the most unique of us believe we can be another Mozart? There is no point making such a comparison. Besides, if people knew the price he paid — a lost childhood due to the strictest training and touring, deformed hands by the age of sixteen, an adult life lived as an immature man-child loathed by his colleagues, someone who loved and respected only his music and his fondness for partying, plus a short life and burial in an unmarked grave. Is this the price of such genius?

Its very easy to forget that external success is an illusion heavily promoted by our current consumer society. If we follow its standards, we will always feel like imposters, no matter how talented we are or how much we do or give. Society is chaotic, so don’t follow its lead. Understand and accept that life is hard and loaded with suffering and that any lack of focus, commitment and discipline magnifies that suffering. Until we accept this reality, we can’t accept responsibility for our actions and we don’t move forward. Procrastination exists only out of a lack of reason for doing and living. Without principles we don’t know how to live nor how to be happy. In fact, we can barely know how to begin.

“To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

Because many artists lack order and solid rituals for proper development we must periodically look ourselves in the mirror and ask ourselves some serious questions. How badly do we need to create? Will we work and sacrifice for our passions and responsibilities? Do we really understand that we can’t buy or achieve fulfillment and peace? This truth takes a very long time to comprehend fully.

Principles for Posing by Walt stanchfeild. This famous list of what defines a great pose indicates how challenging it is just to make one great drawing. These are high standards. What are yours?

This is why standards are important. And why goals are important, It’s the value of beginning with the end in mind. Values help prioritize goals. Goals serve as targets so that we head in the right direction. We must stay focused in order to do the right thing.

Director Spike Lee and the fabulous Danny Aiello star in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, a brilliantly original film on the racial tension that erupts on one hot, sweltering day in NYC.

So, like the farmer, we need to constantly plant seeds for growth. We must continually do good things. And instead of competing with others, we compete only with ourselves from yesterday. Did we get better? Has our work improved? Did we learn from our failures? Are we stronger physically, mentally, or emotionally because of it? These are the kinds of questions worth asking every single day.

If we allow the measurable elements of success to arrive as side effects of our efforts then we can focus soley on developing ourselves. We devote to what we’re becoming rather than what we’re achieving. By doing that, we help others also. And if we tell our minds that we can find happiness in that process, we will find it more often.

“A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it.” — Marcus Aurelius, Roman Philosopher and Emperor

This was the most common clothing item and sight at our house. A sign of duty and getting down and dirty to do the work that was necessary.

“If the farmer is poor, then so is the whole country.” — Polish Proverb

I come from a family of farmers. Several generations of farmers. Farmers carry with them a level of service, professionalism and dedication like no others. One could argue that they’re the bedrock of civilization. They show up each day, rain or shine to prepare and perform their duties. Some, like my father, work almost the full 365 days a year. It’s a level of dedication almost unfathomable today. But it isn’t even so much the daily devotion, but how they worked. I witnessed this growing up, firsthand by watching my father and then my brothers, who would follow suit after him. Unlike the common managers/workers of today, farmers set very high standards of daily performance; they wake early (four or five in the morning), performed the same routines, worked incredibly hard and rarely, if ever, took shortcuts (for whenever they did, they learned very quickly NEVER to do it again). Farmers pay careful attention to the cycle of seasons and adapt accordingly. Spring (preparation), summer (work), fall (harvest), and winter (rest) all signified various stages of activity and prudence. And this process has been respected and followed for thousands of years. It’s proven stuff that works.

How can the modern day artist/animator learn from farmers? It turns out their habits can be easily applied to our creative practice. And in so doing, the artist will come to find that, again, it’s in the quality engagement — ie. the process — where he’ll find fulfillment.

The old Farmer’s Almanac, founded in 1792, is still sold this very day.

1) Farmers plan for the year. (They think long term)

They know what their goal/destination is and set all the things in order for the growing season. They buy the seeds, prep the soil, know where things will be, how and at what intervals throughout the year for planting and harvesting. They know their budget — what time, effort and resources they have at their disposal.

The Animator, likewise, needs to prepare. He needs to know what his work is about and why he’s doing it (i.e. what drives him). He must plan his shots carefully after much debate and deliberation. And he does this in the form of thumbnails, exploratory video work and all kinds of other research (like studying older shots for style, technique or consistency). He does whatever is needed for the task at hand. He also sets the amount of time he has to do the work; a reasonable assessment of the budget and resources. He must be dedicated to being a good professional and know to deliver the goods and deliver them on time. He won’t underestimate the amount of work needed to do the job, nor does he try to do too much or beyond what he can actually deliver. When it comes time perform, he’s ready to excel.

Many seeds are sown, but far less will reach their full potential.

2) Farmers plant more than is necessary. (They raise the odds for success)

The Farmer KNOWS that he’ll reap less than what he sows. All the obstacles that might get in the way of his prosperity — bad weather, insects, bad seeds, or inconsistent soil quality — are all potential disasters that might only reveal themselves later. He must EXPECT them too even if he doesn’t know which one(s) or when. History has proven to him that life can be unexpectedly difficult so he keeps this in mind. Failure has taught him that prevention is far more effective than cure, so he looks in all directions — past, present and future. He knows that good early work can also pay off in surprising ways later. Therefore, he always does more than he has to. He never accepts just doing the minimum or assume that life will be “fair.”

The animator, too, must put in the serious hours, thinking and feeling, and doing his absolute best effort to make sure he raises the law of averages. He improves his odds by getting his blocking right and solid with a believable start to good weight, nice paths of action and clear acting, WAY BEFORE the spline process. He aims for the best possible poses now rather than casually accepting what’s there and trying to fix them later. He ensures all the main points of his scene all read clear and are as appealing as possible. He knows he must hit all the marks his audience or supervisors/directors want else he doesn’t move forward.  Still, he’s prepared for non-acceptance, and if things prove to go wrong, he’s adaptable and can change on the fly because he KNEW that change was coming. The time to re-do is now, not later when it’s that much more difficult, time-consuming and painful. He wastes little time as possible in frustration or complaint. Instead, he’s resourceful and focuses on solutions, right from the get go.

“I’d rather be on my farm than be the emperor of the world.” — George Washington, First US President

Before my father brought our family to North America, he worked the rice fields in China. He continued similar back-breaking work when he got here. Animating sure looks a lot easier.

3) Farmers focus on the work they love doing (They’re not distracted)

Farmer’s love what they do. My father, the consummate farmer, had nothing else on his mind when he worked. He didn’t eat, play games, nap or yap when he was doing his job. He didn’t think about money or status, nor did he spend time whining or complaining. When he was at his job, he DID HIS JOB. There was never any screwing around. It’s the trademark of professionals — commitment and consistency. It’s not what others think of us, but how we conduct ourselves. Farmers, like all true professionals, find joy and pride in doing the simple and mundane while giving their attention to the present tasks.

The animator today, unfortunately, seems to jump from one anxious moment to another, his mind rarely on the present. Often times, he tries to juggle ten things at once, including checking email and chat windows. When I was directing I sometimes wondered whether animators today are more talented than ever or crazier than ever. How can they possibly multi-task while doing this incredibly difficult task? I couldn’t (and neither could Milt Kahl from what Richard Willaims noted). It doesn’t surprise that artists today take so long to do their shots and re-do work more than ever before. Lack of focus is a huge issue. We must pay attention. Developing the ability to concentrate by eliminating distractions may be hard but absolutely necessary for delivering purposeful and congruent outcomes. A scrambled mind delivers a scrambled product. Besides, how can we claim to love our craft if we pay such poor attention to it?

Weeding. I witnessed my father spending as much time doing this as much as anything else when he was on the farm.

4) Farmers are good caretakers (They manage their land and themselves)

He’s always on the lookout for signs of danger or negligence. Is the soil still good? What are the early sprouted leaves telling him about the roots and the plant’s overall health? Are there anu unusual signs and what do they mean? (The presence of certain insects for example, were tell-tale signs of rot and water damage). What about weeding or pruning, did he forget? The farmer keeps on top of all kinds of bad stuff that just keeps showing up and he continually adapts to the changing scenarios. A lot of DAILY care goes into making sure all the hard work put in isn’t wasted even if he wasn’t the cause of those problems.

Animators need to understand the need to sharpen the saw; to stay on top of his game, to manage his work and himself. He needs to push himself to a higher standard, a personal standard. He needs to make sure to check if what he’s done is working and working the best he knows. Are the body mechanics good? Is there solid weight in every frame and at every turn of movement?  What about the appeal? Are the arcs present in each transition, forming “C” or “S” curves or forming figure “8”s? And, after the splining process, has anything been lost in terms of the idea or feeling? Did the work improve as he worked on it or has it gotten worse?

Concerning his own working environment, is it optimized for optimal performance? Is his house in order? As for his own being, has he kept a tab on his attitude and his energy levels. Has he remembered to sleep, eat, exercise and rest? Has he taken the time to remove the weeds of doubt, worry and negativity that are bound to make their presence felt? The good artist is proactive and adapts to change.

There are few things as beautiful as the sight of rows upon rows of varied crops on a small family farm. I always got a kick out of it, that and getting to see my dad who, like most farmers, worked from dusk till dawn.

5) Farmers rest when the day’s over (They give it their all and then are done with it)

After a hard days work, the farmer goes home with a clear conscience. No matter what happens tomorrow, he’s done his job and put in his time. My father never looked forward to going home while he was working, but when they day ended, he savored being at home, where he would eat, rest and spend whatever time left with family. He kept things simple, and his life each day seemed fulfilling. There was never time or energy left for extra stress or anxiety.

Animators, likewise, would do well to leave the work, AT WORK. Good animators I know of, work really hard, and then are purposefully spent for the day. They rarely did overtime or stayed overnight and yet they did the best work at studios. They were fresh and sharp, which often was mistaken for “natural talent.” Making art requires hugely intense mental effort. Without sufficient rest and recuperation, the artists cannot sustain any sort of prolonged excellence.

“The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn’t still be a farmer.” — Will Rogers

Whether a lot or a little, farmer’s take what they can get and are grateful.

6) Farmers accept the outcomes they get. (They are grateful)

Success and failure are dependent on many things in life, many of which are out of our control. When my father saw that our greenhouses/crops went down due to a bad winter storm, blight or contaminated soil — costing our family all the revenues for the year — he just beared the pain and tried to learn from the lesson, if there was one. Sometimes there wasn’t. Like I said, life sometimes is JUST PLAIN HARD. Farmers though, continue to live with optimism and hope, but never is that hope unaccompanied by persistent action.

Like the good farmer, the artist needs to be able to manage the disappointment of failure or suboptimal outcomes. He must focus on the experience and what it has taught him. He must be reminded that pain is often where the growth is, not just in his craft, but for his person. It might sound cliché, but dealing with adversity builds strength and character. As best-selling author Ryan Holiday states; “the obstacle is the way.” Lastly, this brings us back to patience. Nothing could be harder at times than dealing with impatience. It’s been a challenge my entire life. An artist must learn and practice patience. Both personal growth and optimal results take time. Sometimes much more time than what seems reasonable. It’s been said that “most people overestimate what they can do in a year, and underestimate what they can do in ten.” You can’t rush your artistic progress anymore than you can hurry along plant growth. We take action, we wait, and we learn. That’s what constitutes experience.

“The years of searching in the dark for a truth that one feels but cannot express, the intense desire and the alternations of confidence and misgiving until one breaks through to clarity and understanding, are known only to those who have themselves experienced them”.  — Albert Einstein